Means of forming joints and bonds in rails.



H. G. GTLMOR.

. Msgs or' m .remis AND was n: Bmg,

atented Sept. 15, 1908..

ZSHEETS-SHBET 1.

INVENTOR rail.

the locking wedge used in melting the joint.

PATENT OFFICE.

HORATIO G. GILLMOR, OF BATH, MAINE.

MMS OF FCRMDTG JOINTS AND YBOITDS 1N RAILS.

Specification o! Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 15, 1308.

Applicaon filed December 4, 1905. Serial No. 290,161.

Bath, in the county of Sagadahoc, State o Maine, haveV invented an Improvement in the Means of Forming Joints and Bonds in l Rails, of which the following is a specification, accompanied by drawlngs.

My invention relates to railway rail joints, although the uses of the' means ein )loyed to form the rail joints are not limite-t to sueh joints, for my invention may be used in any connection in which they may be found epplieabte.

One of the objects of my invention is to novide. an eilicient. means of joining rails iree from parts liable to work loose alter once having been properly placed.

Another object 0f n1 invention is to provide sueh support. for t ie rail ends as to prevent deflections 0i' the. rail at the joint.

Another object of my invention is, in the cases where the rail is used as a portion of an electrical rireuit, to rovide for an eleetrieal eonductivity througli the joint as nearly as possible equal to or greater than the elect rienl eomluetivity of the nnjointed portion of the ruil. I

Further objects of the invention will herel limiter appear; and to these ends the lovention yonsists of a rail joint for carrying out the ubove objects embodying the features of eonstruetion, eombinutions of elements and au'rnngemt-nt of parts having the general mode ot' operation substantially ashereinnl'ter described and elaimed in this specificotion und shown in the aeeompanying drawings, in hielt-- Figure l is a side elevation mrtly in section, illustrating n form of the ruil joint. Fig. 2 is a vertical set-tion through the `mrts :1t the plane indiented by Y Y" in Fig. t. Fig. 3 is a vertir'nl sent ion thmugh the )arts aty the plane indicated by X X in Fig. l. Fig. 4 is aplun view of the joint.

used in making up the joint.

by "7, Z", lookin'.t down on the. joint, illus trating an application of the joint to u girder Fig. it) is u view of a modified form of Fig. 5 is a l view oi' one of the forms o1' the lot-king wedge z Figs. (i and 8 nre n seetion nt theplune indieatedbv V Y Similar letters refer to similar parts' throughout. the several views.

A A, ete. are the rails to be joined. B B, ete. are angle bars or tish plates.

C C'", ete. is a clam or chair.

D D, ete., are loc 'ing wedges having double wedging surfaces and are arranged to interlock at E with the chair or clamp when the wedge is driven to its final position, so as to prevent movement of the wedge D in relation to the chair or ela-mp C, and having stops F which will come into Contact with the end of the clamp or chair C when the wedge is driven, to preventthel -wedge l' rom heilig driven too far.

G G. etc., are pins or rods traversinfr the angle bars B and the vertical web oli the rail Al Il Il, ete., are spikes ofthe ty e ordinarily used for securing mils and e airs to the ties or sleepers T.

I is a ilat. piece of a dnetile metal sueh for example as copper or zine. having higher eleetriea-l eondutivil-y than steel or iron, held in contact` with the bottom ot the flange of the. rail b v the elnmp or chair under the action of the wedges D D.

K K ete., are plates extending from tie. i to tie at the joint, )rovfidedr with spiking aperture through which the. spikes ll ll, ete. :ire driven, and may either be formed with the elnxir or elnmp as shown in Figs. l to `t inclusive, or as n separate plate interim-.king with the, chair or clamp as illustrateil in Figs. ti and S.

l t i 1 i i i i i l the :ingle bars or ish plates B B'in osition as sliown, inserting the. pins l"'G in the holes provided for them in the :ingle bars and rails, und then plm-ing the elnm (where the elnm p is made separat-ely from tlie plates K) :ind inserting und driving up the wedge or wedges ll D, unt-il the wedge and chair or elnmp interlock at E".

As shown in the drawings, the wedgesD are provided with double wedging faces and i the elamp C has corresponding wedge surfaces. Through the we( ging action of one j set ol surfaces of thel wedge and clamp, lati eral pressure is brought. upon the angle bars 1B to force them into their proper positions, engaging with the under surfaces of the heads of the mils and the. upper surfaces lof t-he flanges; und the dimensions of the l wedges are so fixed that. the elasticity of the The jointv is made. up by plut-ing the rails' with their ends on the. plate K K placing.

arms of the clamp C will, with the wedges ,(lriven, exert pressure. upon the wedges l) and hence upon the angle hars B, The elasticity of the clamp arms is suflcient to allow the, arm to spring stillicicntly as the wedge is being driven to permit the interlocking surfaces of the wedge and clamp to pass one another and the interlocking of the clamp and wedge is atected automatically 1o by the elasticity of the clamp,` cau-sing the. clamp arms to spring back and interlock the surfaces of the wedge and clamp nrin at E Since the rails and angle bars nordinarilyr employed are produced by rolling, there will t5 be slight. irregularities of the surfaces of the rail and angle bars and the contact between the angle. bar and the rail will at first be at high spots of each instead of over the whole surfaces. In bolted joints as ordinarily V2o formed the wearing of the surfaces o' Contact of the joint under service conditions causes slackness of the joint even when tlie bolts l have originally been well'tightencd and the nuts have not slackened. lith the ordinary tvpe of bolted joint, the. vibrations to which the parts are subjected generally causes loosening of the nuts, which further permits the angle hars to leave 'firm Contact with the i rail ends. These ditliculties of' the bolted joint are overcome inniy joint through the. i continuing ircssure brought upon the angie l bars throng tlief\\:edges by the elasticity of the arms of the clamp, and the interlocking Y of the wedge. with the clamp prevents any movement of the wedge relative to the clamp.

This continuingpressure exerted upon the angle bars causes their surfaces to continue in irm bearing contact with the rail ends as. the spots of contact between the angle liars 40 and the. railwear downwit-litlie rail in service. The other we'dging surfaces ol` the. nf'cdge and clamp provide for vertical pressure when the wedge. is driven, and fort-.e the j flange of the angle bar and tht-'plate li" into intimate contact with the llange. of the. rail; und, since the. wedges extend sonic disl tnncoeucli side ofthe joint and bear upon the l under surfaces of the heads in the clanipi Y arms, they with the clamp and plate 'K" forni a truss to strengthen the. joint.. l '.lo secure the rails against liodil.' move.- .j ment in the direction of length; and. at. the l same tiine,-provide. for the. changes ir. length of the individual rails on account of the j chan es in temperature, pins are pro-l vide which traverse the two angle bars and j the web of the rail. Generally it will be suf- 'j cient t0 lit these pins on one side. of the joint only and they may be made to lil the holes in l the angle bars and rail closely. 1t will be l found in seine cases desirable to malte these l ins with a. taper and drive them into the i oles so as to give. a. good bearing of the pins l .in the holes.

In. cases where it is desirable to fit pins both sides ot the joint, the holes in l l ties are bedded. at a joint, being either-titled witliotit pins or g cured to hold them in position against suc-li 1 compressive strains. A

the. angle. bars at one side of the joint are made. elliptical in shape so as to provide for the small changes iii length of thc rail due to changes in tenipeia'itnre. The angle bars are. notched and the underlying plates li have apertures which, when the joint is made. u come iii line with the. notches in the ang e bars. Spikes of the ordinary type are'driven to engage with the notches in the angle bars B and pass through the apertures in the plates "l\'."` and will hold the angle bars and plates firinljY iii position upon tlie t-ies.

Since the pins G fitted at. one side of the joint lit the holes in the angle bars and rail fairly closely, one end of caen rail will be an- S0 cliored to the tics and any stress in the. rail tending to produce movement of the rail as a whole in the. direction of its length will be resisted by theY ballast ing material in which the The other end of eac-h rail with elongated holes in the angle bars, if pins are used, will be free to move through tlie small distance necessitated by the changes in length due to changes in temperature. Where. the joint is made to come. between two ties or sleepers, as in the joint illustrated in Figs. l. to et g the spikes tra -erse the angle bars and underlying plate l and piercing two ties all contribute to the. anchoring of tlie fixed end of the rail. ln practice it will be found that the allowance for expansion Yat the joint. niniV lie so made that at. the lowest tem- 1 perature to which the rails are subjected tlic f joint will lie but very sliglitl)Y open, whereas at tlie higher temperature tliejoint will bc close -.aud the rails under suine compressive strains, the rails being sulliciently rigidly se- 4)Q5 'llie end pins` tir in any joint may be made to project. slightly beyond the face of the angle liars on opposite sides at the-ends of each joint, and a portion ot the, small end of j the wedges grooved so that when the wedges are. in place the pins and groove of thc wedge.

.will forni :is-top. Similarly when a single wedgeclanipot tlietypesliownin Figsund iseniployedtliepnis l mayallbe inadeto project and engage c ith apertures of' the 115 clamp so aslo loclctlie clamp in position longitudinallr on lie rails.

'lhe surfaces of contact of the angle bars and the plate li extending under the rail ends at the joint, are in area several times the V20 area of any right section of'tlie unjointcd portion of the rail 3 and these surfaces, by the pres sure exert ed upon them, are brought. into and retained in intimate contact, so that, where the. rails forni a part of the electrical circuit, should the conductivity per unit of area at the surfaces of contact lieti'. een the rails or splice bars and the plate `K be. less than the conductif'it'y per unit ot sectional area of the continuous portion ot the rail, the total conductivitj through the surfaces of contact (on account of the greater area of these surfaces) and through the `sectional area of the material going to make up the joint may still be at least equal to the conductivity of the continuous uiijointed portion ofthe rail.

ln many conditions of service e. joint made up in the manner described, without special reparation of the surfaces of contact in the joint, will have sufficient conductivity to meet the requirements of continued sei-rice. Since, however, the electrical conductivity at the surfaces of contact in the joint depends so greatly upon the condition of these surfaces, in my invention they are., where necessary, protected from the corrosive action of the atmosphere and other elements present; by having theii` surfaces coated with zinc. tin or some other element less subject to oxidation than is the ease with the steel or iron einplriyed as a material in the manufacture of these parts. ln the relatively small arts such as the angle hais and plate K t iis is done by galvanizing, tinning orplating in t-lie usual way. The portions of the surfaces of the rail ends coming into contact with these arts in the. made jointmay be given a metalic )rotect-ive coating by removing all scale 'an grease or dirt by sand blast, filing etc., heating the surface to a pioper temperature with a gasolene or other sultable torch and causing a stick of zinc, tin or suitable compound to melt upon the surfaces to be coated and uniformly spread over these surfaces with a brush or other suitable appliance. To still further increase the conductivity at the joint in cases where circumstances may make this necessary, provision is made for placing, as shown in the illustrations, a `)late or sheet of sonic material of relatively high conductivity, suc-h for example as copper, alumi num or zinc, between the bottoms of the flanges at the rail ends and the clamp so that the vertical wedging action of the clamp will draw the surfaces of this plate into intimate contact with the bottom of the flanges of the rail ends and l'orm a suitable hond. lVhere copper is employed for this bond, the surfaces wouldordinarilyhe coated with a metal,

' 50 such for example as tin, less subject to oxidation than is copper, to insure better metallic surfaces at the contact of the bond with the bottoms of the rail flanges.

In Figs. t5 and 8 the hase plate K is '55 separate from the clamp and is notched at the sides to receive the clamp arms and prevent movement ol the hase plate relative to the clamp; and one clamp arm is arranged to engage directly with the surfaces of one of the angle. hars.

1n Figs. 7 and 9 the clamp takes the form of ay chair, the base of which is carried out transversely instead of along the rails, and fitted with spiking apertures as would be de sirahle for a joint placed on a tie.

' adapted, automatically, to interlock to pre- The constructions shown in Fig.. 6 to 9 inclusive, carry ont the saine objects at.- t'aiiied by the construct-ion shown in the other figures, although the forms of the parts differ somewhat. Tlieir functions, however, are substantially :he sant-e in all of the construct ions shown.

The automatic interlocking of the wedges and clamp arms may be effected either by providing a projection on the clamp arm which, as the wedge is being driven into position, will spring the resilient arm outward and, when the wedge reached the locking position, be brought hach by the resiliencyr of the arm and cause their projection on the go clamp to engage with a notch on the wedge, as in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive; or a projection may he provided oi; the wedge faceas in Figs.

6 to l0 inclusive, che action of which will be entirely similar, tlie clamp arms springing 35 outward to permit the projections to pass, being returned by the resiliency of the arms when the projection has Missed, and inter` locking the clamp arm and projection on the wedge. The same ends might he met -by in forming the clamp and clamp arms of rigid material and the wedges in a resilient mat-erial, which instead of bearing over the greater portion of their length would bear near the ends and therefore be capable of springing sufficiently to permit the interlocking parts to pass as the wedge is being driven and s )ring into engagement with the clamp when the wedge is in position.

Obviously sonic features of this invention may he used without others,'and the invention may be embodied in Widely lvarying forms.

Therefore without limiting the invention to the constructions shown and described, nor enumerating equivalents, Ali claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent the f0llowing:

1. A self locking wedge clamp, comprising a clamp bod y with suitably formed, resilient, arms extending upwardly and'inwardly and a self locking wedge constructed with wedging surfaces lo engage with the clamp .body and other bodies to secure pressure between the clampand said bodies, the said wedge and one ofthe said clamp arms 4being constructed vwith suitably formed surfaces rent slackening of the wedge when driven: into position, for substantially the purposes set fort-li.

2. A self locking wedge clamp, comprising a clamp body with. suitably formed, resilient, arms extending upwardly and inwardl and self locking wedges each constructe( with wedging surfaces to engage with the clamp body and other bodies .to secure pressure 'between the said clamp and other bodies,

the said wedges and said clamp arms beingA constructed with suitably formed surfaces'130 adapted, automatically. to interlock to provent slackcniix;r of the wedges when driven into position, for substantially the purposes set forth.

It. A soif loi-king wedge clamp, comprising a. clamp bod with suitably formed7 resilient, arias extending upwardly and inwardlv, and a. self locking wedge constructed to engage. with the clamp bod)V and other bodies to secure pressure in two directions. approxiiiiatelv at right angles, between said clair-p and other bodies. the said wedge and one of the said clamp as being constructed with suitably formed surfaces adapt cd tutoinatio ally to inte-deck to prevent sian-kening of the wedge when driven into position, for substantialbv the burpises set form.

lV A self locking wedge clamp, comprising a clamp body with suitably f ornicd. resilient, arnis extending upwardly and iiiinirdly; and self locking wedges, cach constructed with double wcdging surfaces to engage with the clamp bod)-v and other bodies to secure pressure in two directions approximittel)v at right angles between said clamp and other bodies, the said wedges and thi-sai d clamp a ruis being constructed with suitably formed surfaces adapted automatically to interlock to prevent slackcning of the wedges when driven into position, for substantially the purposes set forth.

5. A rail joint; comprising the rails; a chair. having resilient arms extending upwardljr and inwardly; and self locking wedges, constructed to engage with the chair and other parts of the jointat opposite sides 0f the rai s to retain them in surface and alinenient, eaeh of the said wedges and the said chair arms being constructed with suitably formed surfaces adapted, automatically, to interlock to prevent slackening of the wedges when driren into position; for substantially the purposes set forth.`

` 6. A rail joint; comprising the rails; a chair, having resilient. arms extending upwardly and inwardly; self locking: wedges, constructed to engage with' the chair and other parts of the joint at op )osito sides of the rails to retain them in surface and :dineinent., each of the said wedges and the said chair arms being constructed with suitably formed surfaces ada xted, automatically, to interlock to prevent. sxlaekcning of the wedges when driveninto iosiiion; and means to preventinovcment oi one rail with respect to the chair and Wedges; for substantially the purposes set forth.

7. A. rail joint comprising the'rails; a chair or clamp body having resilient arms extending upwardly and inwardly; self-locking wedges constructed to engage with the chair and other parts of the joint at opposite sides of the rails' to retain them in surface and alinen'ient, each of the said wedges and the said chair arms being constructed .with

suitably formed surfaces adapted automatically to interlock to .pieventshickening of the wedges when driven into position; means to prevent inoveincn'tofon'c' rail with res )ect to the chair and wedges; and a, buse llate interlocking with the said chair or e ain') body and extending for a pm tion of its lengt oeyond the edges ot' the l-ises of the rails and provided with spiking apertures; for substantially the purposes set fort-h.

S. i rail joint; comprising the rails; a chair having resilient; arms extending upwardly and overturned inwardi)Y at their upper edges; and self locking wedges, constructed with doublel wedgiiig surfaces to engage uitli the chair and other parts of the joint at opposite sides of the rails to secure an upward pressure of the )arts of the joiiitupon the lower surfaces of the heads and bases of the rails and a downward press-ine of the 35 parts of the joint upon the upper surfaces of the bases of the rails, each of the said wedges and the said cha-ir arnis being constructed with suitably formed surfacesadapted, automatically, to interlock to prevent slaeliening of the wedges when d :'ivezi into position; for substantiallj.` the purposes set forth.

9. A rail joint comprising the rails; a chair having resilient :unis extending upwardly nud overturned inwardly attheir upper edges; self-locking wedges construct-ed with double wedging surfaces to engage with the chair and other parts of the joint at, opposite sides of the. rails to secure an upward pressure of the parts of the joint upon the lower surfaces of the heads and bases of the rails and a downward pr ssure of the. parts of the joint upon the. upper surfaces of the bases of the rails, each of the said wedges and the said chair arms being constructed with suitably formed surfaces adapted automatically to interlock to 'preventl Slat-kening of the wedges when driven into position; and means to prevent .'iiovcnient of one rail with respect to the chair and wedges; for sub- 11o stantially the purposes set forth.

it). A rail joint.; coiupr'sing the rails; a clamp body or chair, having resilient. ariiis extending upwardly and m'erturned inwai'dl)r at their upper edges; self locking 115 wedges, constructed with double wedging surfaces, to engage with the clamp body or chair and other pa ris of the joint at opposite sides of the rails to secure an upward pres sure of the parts of the joint upon the lower surfaces of the heads and bases of the rails and :i downward pressure of the parts of the, joint upon the upper surfaces of the bases of the rails, the said wedges and the said clamp or chair arms being constructed with suit- 25 ably formed surfaces adapted, automatically, to interlock to prevent slackening of the wedges when driven into position; nie-ans to prevent movement of one rai.witbC respect to the clamp bod)T or chair and wedges; and

, adapted, automatically, to interlock to prei selflockiiig we ge constructed to engage with a base plate, interlocking witlr the clamp l one of the said chair arms bein" constructed body or chair and extending for a portion of i its lenvth beyond the edges of the bases of the ra` s and provided with liking apertures; i for substantially the purposes set forth. l1. A rail joint; comprising the rails; al

fish bar; a chair, having resilient arms'extending upwardly and inwardly; and a self locking u edge7 constructed to engage with the chair and other part-s of the jointat thcsidc of the rails opposite te the fish bar to retain the rails in surface and alineineut, the said wedge and one of the said chair arms being constructed with suitably formed surfaces adapted, automatically, to interlock to prevent slackening of the wedge when driven into position; for substantially the purposes set forth.

12. A rail joint; comprising the rails; a. fish bar; a chair, having resilient arms extending upwardly and inwardly; a self locking wedge, constructed -to engage with the chair and other parts of the joint at the side of the rails opposite to the fish bur to retain them in surface and alinement, tliesaid wedge and one of the said chair arms being constructed with suitably formed surfaces vent slackening of' the wedge when driven into position; and means to prevent movement of one rail with respect to the fish bar, chair and wedge.; for substantially the purposes set forth.

13. A rail joint comprising the rails; a fish liar; a chair or clamp body having resilient arms extendinor upwardly and inwardly; a

the chair and other parts of the joint at the side ofthe rails opposite to the fish bar to retain them in surface and alinement, the said wedge and one of the chair arms being eonstructed with suitably formed surfaces adapted automatically to interlock to prevent slaekening of the wedges when driven into position; means to prevent movement of one rail with respect to the fish bar, chair and wedge; and a base plate, interlocking with the clamp body or cha-ir and ext-ending for a portion of its length beyond the edges of the bases of the rails and provided with spiking apertures; for substantially the purposes set forth.

. 14. A rail joint comprising the rails; a fish bar; a chair, having resilient arms extending upwardly and inwardly, one of the said arms boing overturned inwardly at its upper edge; and Ya self locking wedge constructed with double wedging surfaces to engage with the chair and other par-ts of the joint at the side of the rails opposite to the said fish bar to secure au upward pressure of the parts of the 'oint upon the lower surfaces of the heads and ases of the rails and a drpynward pressure of the parts of the 'oint u )on the upper surfaces of the bases of tJhe raifs, the said wedge and with suitably -formed surfaces adapted, auto'- inatically, to interlock to prevent slackening of the wedve when driven into position for substantially the purposes set forth.

l5. A rail ioint comprising the rails; a fish bar; mohair aving resilient arms extending upwardly and inwardly, one of the said arms being overturned inwardly at its upper edge; and :i self locking wedge, constructed with double wedging surfaces to engage with the.

chair and other parts of the joint at the side of the rails opposite to the said fish bar to secure an upward pressure of the arts of the joint upon the lower surfaces o the heads and leases of the rails and a downward pressure of the parts of the jointupon the upper surfaces of the bases of the rails, the said r.' edge or wedges and one or both of the said chair arms being constructed with suitably formed surfaces adapted automatically to interlock to prevent slaclrening of the wedgeV when driven into position; and means to prevent movement et one rail with respect to the chair and wedges; for substantiahy the pur? poses set forth.

16. A rail joint comprising the rails; a fish bar; a clamp body or chair having resilient arms extending u wardly and inwardly one of the said arms eing overturned inwardly at its upper edge; a. self locking Wedge constructed with double wedging surfaces to e ig'age with the. clamp body or chair and other parts of the joint at the side of the rails o posite to the fish bar to secure an upwar ressure of .the parts of the joint upon t e lower surfaces of the heads ssi and bases of therails anda downward presi sure of the parts of the joint upon the upper surfaces of the bases of thev rails, the said wedge and one of the arms of the said clamp body or chair being constructed with suitably' formed surfaces adapted, automatically, to interlock to prevent slackening of the wedge when driven into position; 'means to prevent movement of one rail with res ect to the fish bar and wedge; and a base p ate, interlocking with the said clamp body or chair and extending for a portion of its lenvth beyond the edges of the bases of the rails and provided with spiking apertures; for substan- A tiallv the purposes set forth.

14. A rail joint; coinprifng the rails; a fish liar, having a flange projecting beyond the edge of the bases of the rails, provided with spiking iertures in said projectin flange ya chairLlia-ving a base provided wit spiking apertures coperating with the spiking a iertures in the projecting flange of said fish liar and resilient arms extending upwardly and inwardly, one of the said arms being overturned inwardly at its upper edge; a wedge, constructed with double wedging surf aces to engage with the chair andothe-r paresof the joint at the side of the ra'ils opposite to the said fish bar to secure an upward pressure of the'parts of the joints` upon the lower surfaces of the heads and bases of the rails-and a downward pressure of the. part-s of the joint upon the upper surface-s of the bases of the rails, the. said wedge and one of the said chair arnis being must-rooted with suitably fornied surfaces adapted, automatically, to interlock to prevent slackening ofthe wedge when driven into position; means to prevent ini'iveinent of one rail with respect to the chair and other parts of the joint; and spikes traversing the cooperating apertures in the fish bar flange and chair hase at one side of the-rails and the apertures in the chair l hase at the other side. thereof; for substantially the purposes set forth.

1S. A rail joint; comprising the rails; :i fish bar, having a flange projecting beyond the edges of the bases of the rails provided with spikingr apertures in 'said projecting flange; a elainp hod) or chair having resilient arnis extending upwardly and inwardly, one of the said arins heiiig overturned inwardly at its upper edge; a self locking wedge constructed with doiihle wedging surfaces to engage. with the efanip body or chair and otherl parts of the joint at the sido of the rails opposite to the fish har to secure an upward pressure of the parts of the joint upon the lower surfaces of the heads and hascs of base plate af. the other side thereof;

the. rails and a downward pressure of the parts of the, joint upon the upper surfaces of the bases of the rails, the said wedge. and one of the. said chimp `or chair arins hiring constructed wit-li suitahlj foi-ined -surfares adapted, autoinatiralfj, to interlock to prevent slackening of the wedge when driven into position; ineens to prevent inoi'enient of one rail with respect to the fish hai', chair and wedge; u hase plate interlocking with the said rfanip hody or hair and extending for a portion of its length lwyond thel edgr's of the bases of' the rails and proiidid with spikingl apertures, those at one side of the ri-.ils cooperating with the spiking apertures in the projeeting flange of the saidiish har; and spikes` 'tijareising the eoperafing apertures in the fish har flange and hase plate at one side of the rails' and the apertures of the for suhstantially the. purposes set forth.

15). A rail joint; coinpri .ng tfie rails; fish bars; a chair, haring resilient arins extend ing upwardly and inwardly; and a self locking wedge or self locking wedges, const riirted to engage with the chair and other part-s of tho joint to secure pressiinf upon the parts of the joint.; the said wedge or wedges and one or both of the said chair arnis being Constructed with suitably t'orn'icd surfaces adapted, automatically, to interlock to prevent, sluckeniiig of the wedge when driven into position; for substantially the purposes set forth.

20. Arail joint; Comprising the rails; fish hais; a chair. having resilient. arins exten( ing upwardly and inn ardfy; and a self fork- -ing wedge or self looking wedges,.const riiirf ed with double wedgnig surfaces to secure, .im upward pressure of the parts of the joint upon the lower surfaces of thc heads and bases of the rails and a downward pressure o the narfs of the jointI upon the upper surfaces of the bases of the rails, the said wedge or wedges and one or hoth of the said chair itinis heilig eonstriiitcd with suitably fo'rnied surfaces adapted, autoinaticafly, to interlock to prevent. slut-kening of the wedge when driven into position; for substantially the purposes sei forth.

L'l. A rail joint; roniprisingllie rails; fish hars; u rliair, having resilient arins extending upwardly and inwardly; a self lurking wedge or self locking wedges, constructed to engage with the rliair and other parts of the joint to sei-ure pressure. upon the parts of the -uint, the `said wedge or wedges and one or lioth of the said chair urins being constructed with suitahl) forined surfaces adapted, automatically, to a eningr of' the wedges when driven into position; and ineans to prevent niovenient of one rail with respect to the fish' hars and chair for substantially the purposes set forth.

2. A rail joint.; comprising the rails; fish hars; a chiiir, hai-'ing resilient arms extending upwardljY :ind overturned inwardly at their upper edges; a self locking wedgoor wedges eonstraeted with double wedging sin-fares to engage with the chair and other parts of the joint. to secure an upward pri-ssure of the paris of' the joint upon the lower surfai-es ofthe hases of the rails und :i downward pressure of the prits of the joint upon the upper surfiu'es of the hoses of the rails, ihr said wedge or wedges and the. sind eniur arios heing const rui'tiid with siiitahlji' formed surfaces adapted, automatically, to interloek to prevent slur-kening of the wedges when driven into position; und ineans to prevent inorenii-nt of one rail with respect.

io the fish hars und chair; for substantially the piirposm sei, foith. v j

123. A rail joint comprising the rails; fish hars; having flanges extending heyond the. edges of the hase of the. rails provided with spiking apertures therein; means to pre1/ent relativo nioveinent longitudinally of the fish hars and one. rail; :i rail chair, comprising n hase provided wif li spikinc` apertures adopted to eoiperafe with the s.\i'i:ing apertures in t io flanges of the fish hai-s and suitably formed arnis extending upwardly and inwardly; spikes passing through the eoi'viratnig aportures of the. chair huso and fis i bar flanges; a suitable wedge oi .i'edges eonstrueieo to exert wedging forces between the eliair and other parts of the jointand automatically to interlock wit h an urin ofthe chair when d rii'en interlock to prevent sfack- A 't'.liiiii' whin drivon into intii piisitinn, for substantially thil piiipnsis hi'tieaii'lll.

24. A iiil joint. Cnniprising thtiiiiis: iisli l lniijs having lliiiigis extending lia-)wind 'the ed (if the lmsv 'if thi` i'ziils provided with j spi iing :ipifi'tui'vs ihm-0in; iiiiwins to prevent i'i'liitivn niiwiniciit. lungitniiiiially; (if iish hin-s :ind imc iiiil; a mil iliziii', comprisin th(` lnn'gos if the fish lmis :ind twii siiili- :ihly ini-ined zii'ms i-Xieiidnig upwardly and thtl i in' vliriii' and Xt-ending for fiv portion nf its i lvngth lieynnd the vdgos nf this hiisis (if liiy i'siils :iiid piuviih-d with spiking; :ipc-i-iiii'cs, tur substantially thc piiiii.isi s svt t'iiitii.

.27. A iiiil junit, f-iiinpi'ising the rails: fish "rs, having {langt-s nxtnnding lmyiiiid this i'ilgixs ui' thv lnisi nl" tln mils lii'iiviilud with Oxti't wcdging init-05 in directions :ipi'iizixiuniti-lj; :it right :inglcs lio-tween the fliiiii' and L the other piiits if the joint. und :iiitniinitii-:illy to interim-li with ini arm o the clniii wlwn i driven into inisitiuii, [or substantially tlic pui-poses sut wrt-li.

25. A mil )mnt comprising the rails, tisli hairs, means to pi'meiit relativ@ iniii't'iniilt liiiigitndiniilly of the, fish liiii's and uno rail, :i clamp body or ifliziii' having stiitiiliiytniineil firms extending upwardly :md inwardly. i: :si-ll' locking wedge in' Wedges cnnsti'iiitcd to nxt-ri' Wulf-ing fiii'cos between the cliiiir :ind mlimparts iii'- t-lic joint :ind :intoniiiticziliy tu iniii'inck with oni` m' liiitli of the iii'ins ut' the ifliiiii when driven into piisitinn, sind :i hasn pluto interlocking with the .said chimp hiidy ni 'fhziii' :ind irxteniling foi' :i poi-tion of' its lingth liiyiind'thi. vdgis of the lnisis if th(I mils :ind pi'iividiii with 'spiking :ipvrtiii'ist fui' substantially the pui-poses sut fiirth.-

i i i i 26. A mil jnint. fiiinpi'ising; thv iiiils, lish liiii's, inmins tu pi'vi'vnt relative nim'oniifiit longitudinally o the fish imi-s :ind one "nil,

i'i rliiiiip lmdy oi'chiiiihavingsuitiilily foi-mnd :ii'ins cxti-.niling upwardly :ind inwardly, ii. soll' locking wvdg iii' wvilgvs ('iinsti'ui'ti-d It ingturcos in dirvi-.tions iipiinxiiiiiitviv :itl: iight iingliis hvtwivn tlm-c mii' :ind uthieif;

' :i clamp passing tliriiiiigli thc cupii-iitiii; r :ipt-itiiifs in thi? ,flanges ed thvy tlsh hin-s :ind tliihiiso plait-e; constructed to si) iiigiigi.V with the. hasn plate :is to picvviit liiiigitndiniil inovc-i'ni-nt; and ii snitnlilo woilgv inL wodgis ci'iiisti'iictfiiil tu vxoit. wodging i'ui'cvs lwtwinn the clamp und the ntliin pan-is it ilin joint and iintniiniticiilly to intoi'liivk with iin ai'ni iii' :ii'ins if ihl lliinip when di'ivvn into positiun, tivi' siihstiintiiilly the piiipiisvs svt fiii'tlif 2S. A iiiil inint, comprising thv iiiils: lisli hars, having llzingis extending lwyiind the vilgis if thi.x hns-c nl' thix i'iiils, pi'iiviiliil with spiking; gipii'tni'is tliiierin: ii iiiisii pliiii cxtvnding, for :i poi-tion if its length, liiiyiiiid the luist` nf the i'ziils :ind provided with .spiking :ipvitni'vs ciitipi'i'iiting with iliv spiking iipiitiiiis in tha llzingis nl' tho fish hairs :ind

lspiliiiig :1pm-turns thc-rein: :i li'ii'siplate. vx- Y in gr a. has@ provided with spiking iipii-Lnies imsi plain; spilivs pzissiiig tlii'iiiigh tlii viivinili-:ximg iipvsini-vs in thv. lliingcs ist tlm lish liiii's :ind thv huso. pliitv; a. i-liiiiip' consti-noted Il .sii iiigiigv with theY lm siplatt' :is tu prvvint longitudinal niiiviiiivnt; iinil :i snitiihlv jniiit. nini t0 :iiitiiniiiliifiilly intni'lnvk w'th :in

:iiiii nr :is-nii iif 'iliii chimp wlwii drivi'n imi iiisitiiiii, l'eii substantially tlicy piii-pusi-s sisty iin-lli.

ln tvstiiiinny wliii'rul' l liiivi` sigiiml niy 

